The 19 South African passport-holders arrested by the Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on allegations they were hatching a coup have been deported from Kinshasa and are expected at the Johannesburg International Airport on Sunday evening, South African Foreign Affairs Department spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
Earlier on Sunday the Associated Press reported that three Americans captured while working for a presidential candidate had been released, according to their employer.
Omega Group CEO Alex de Witt said on Sunday the 15 Omega employees among the released group were security systems specialists, and had been involved on a state contract upgrading the DRC’s ports to comply with international harbour security standards.
They were now on their way home to South Africa.
”We are delighted that our staff members have been released, and we are grateful to the DRC authorities and the South African Foreign Affairs staff who assisted in achieving their release,” De Witt said.
”I would like especially to thank our Ambassador Sisa Ngombane in Kinshasa, and DRC’s Ambassador Bene M’pako in Pretoria, for their support and commitment in resolving this misunderstanding,” he said.
The returning South Africans were booked on an SAA flight from Kinshasa due to arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport at 5.35pm on Sunday, De Witt said. – Sapa